A group of 40 students from Satya Special School, accompanied by their faculty members and caregivers, visited Aurovanam for an immersive nature learning experience hosted by SVARNIM Puducherry. The visit was designed to give students first-hand exposure to a living forest landscape, allowing them to learn through observation, touch, and exploration rather than through classroom instruction alone. Dressed in their bright yellow and navy school uniforms, the students arrived with great enthusiasm and curiosity about the green surroundings that awaited them.
The visit began with a guided walk through Aurovanam, led patiently by a member of the team. Students were introduced to native seed varieties, plants of the Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest (TDEF), and the saplings nursery, where young native plants are nurtured for restoration and planting. The guide explained the importance of native species, their role in conserving local biodiversity, and the significance of nurturing and protecting indigenous plants for the health of the wider ecosystem.
The walk took the group along shaded forest trails, beneath a towering banyan tree with long, hanging aerial roots and a dense canopy of mature trees. Students moved together in a line, many holding hands, while faculty members and caregivers walked beside them, offering guidance and support at every step. At various points along the trail, the group paused in open clearings, near a rustic wooden structure and climber-wrapped trees, to listen, ask questions, and observe the plants and seeds up close. The warmth, mutual care, and cooperation among students and accompanying staff were evident throughout the visit.
The experience encouraged curiosity and environmental awareness among the students, many of whom engaged actively with what they saw and heard. One student enthusiastically shared his feedback at the end of the walk, describing what he had observed during the visit and expressing sincere gratitude to the guide for patiently accompanying him throughout the walk. His response reflected the meaningful impact that such experiential learning can have on students, who often benefit most from hands-on, sensory-rich learning environments.
Nature education is most effective when it is accessible to everyone. By welcoming students of different abilities and adapting the walk to their pace and needs, Aurovanam demonstrated that a forest can be a classroom for all. Direct contact with trees, seeds, and saplings helps learners build a personal connection with the environment, which in turn nurtures respect for biodiversity and a sense of responsibility towards conservation.
The visit reinforced the importance of inclusive nature education, enabling students of all abilities to connect with nature, appreciate biodiversity, and develop a deeper understanding of environmental conservation. It also strengthened SVARNIM's ongoing efforts to open Aurovanam as a shared learning space for schools and communities, and to make environmental awareness an experience that every child can take part in.
